Putting training apparatus

ABSTRACT

A training apparatus for putting is provided. The apparatus includes an elongate main body including an upper end and a lower end. The apparatus further includes a club clamp located at the lower end and configured to clamp a shaft of a golf club relative to the main body. The apparatus further includes a rod clamp located at the upper end and configured to clamp an alignment rod relative to the main body.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to U.S. APPLICATION No. 63/131,762, filed Dec. 29, 2020, the entire contents and disclosure of which are incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to apparatus and methods of training for golf and, more particularly, apparatus and methods for teaching a proper setup and address position for putting.

Putting is a skill within the game that a golfer must continuously hone to be able to shoot a low score. While putting is easy to learn and appears simpler than other aspects of golf, a golfer's putting may still have a defect that is difficult to detect whether the defect relates to the address position, the putting motion or some other aspect. Any golf training apparatus or methods that can assist the golfer in detecting a defect in the address position or putting motion or that can assist the golfer in practicing a correct address position or motion has value to golfers. Moreover, any such apparatus or methods that have the same goals but are more effective at achieving those goals would be even more valuable to golfers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one example, a training apparatus for putting includes an elongate main body including an upper end and a lower end. The apparatus further includes a club clamp located at the lower end and configured to clamp a shaft of a golf club relative to the main body. The apparatus further includes a rod clamp located at an upper end and configured to clamp an alignment rod relative to the main body.

In another example, a method of practicing putting using a training apparatus is provided. The training apparatus comprises an elongate main body including an upper end and a lower end joined by a longitudinal portion and a transversal portion. The training apparatus further comprises a club clamp located at the lower end and configured to clamp a shaft of a golf club relative to the main body. The training apparatus further comprises a rod clamp located at the upper end and configured to clamp an alignment rod relative to the main body. The method comprises clamping the club clamp to the shaft of the golf club such that a plane formed by the longitudinal portion and the transversal portion is parallel with a club face of the golf club, assuming a putting position by gripping a grip of the golf club and checking where the alignment rod contacts each of a user's forearms, and adjusting a position of the rod clamp along the transversal portion and clamping the rod clamp such that the alignment rod touches each of the user's forearms at a same spot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an example embodiment of a training apparatus that is mounted on a putter;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the apparatus including a rod clamp on an upper end and a club clamp on a lower end;

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the apparatus in FIG. 2 with the rod clamp rotated around a longitudinal portion of a main body of the apparatus relative to FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the rod clamp of the apparatus where the rod clamp is removed from the upper end of the main body in an exploded manner;

FIG. 5 illustrates a view of a set of marks on the longitudinal portion of the main body;

FIG. 6 illustrates a stationary portion at the lower end of the main body which makes up a part of the club clamp and includes a recess;

FIG. 7 illustrates a pivoting portion which makes up the rest of the club clamp and also includes a recess with a pad shown therein; and

FIG. 8 illustrates a side view of the training apparatus being used by a user during a putting motion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present disclosure describes an embodiment of a golf training apparatus 10 provided to train or teach a predetermined setup or address for putting. The apparatus 10, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, may include an elongate main body 12 including a first end 12 a on a lower side of the main body 12 (i.e., the lower end) and a second end 12 b on an upper side of the main body 12 (i.e., the upper end). The apparatus 10 may also include a club clamp 18 at the first end 12 a of the main body 12, and may further include a rod clamp 20 which may be movably located near the second end 12 b of the main body 12.

The main body 12 of the apparatus 10 may include a transversal portion 24 and a longitudinal portion 26 which are oriented perpendicularly relative to one another. The longitudinal portion 26 may lead to the first end 12 a and the transversal portion 24 may lead to the second end 12 b. The longitudinal portion 26 may refer to the portion of the main body 12 that extends substantially parallel to the grip 1 a of the putter 1. The transversal portion 24 may refer to the portion of the main body 12 that extends from the junction of the transversal portion 24 and the longitudinal portion 26 to the second end 12 b. The junction at which the transversal portion 24 and the longitudinal portion 26 intersect may be curved so that the main body 12 is shaped similar to the letter ‘J’. In a different embodiment, the junction at which the transversal portion 24 and the longitudinal portion 26 intersect may form a right angle.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the longitudinal portion 26 may be dimensioned to be longer than the length of a conventional putter grip 1 a such that, once the apparatus is mounted on the grip 1 a of a putter 1, the grip 1 a is located between the club clamp 18 and the horizontal portion 26 (FIG. 1).

As shown in the figures, the main body 12 may be configured with reinforcing truss structures 28 throughout to protect the main body 12 from any possible external forces that could bend, twist or deform the main body 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the main body 12 includes two curved plates 12 a that are positioned opposite one another and are joined by truss structures 28. Moreover, the cross-sectional shape of the main body 12 may be a circle, an oval or a shape that is enclosed by a combination of rectilinear and/or curved lines. As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the cross-sectional shape of the main body 12 may vary along the length of the main body 12. For example, the cross-sectional shape of the main body 12 along the transversal portion 24 may be a circle while the cross-sectional shape of the main body 12 along the longitudinal portion may be a rectangle (FIGS. 2 and 4). The dimensions of the rectangle may vary longitudinally along the longitudinal portion 26.

As shown in FIG. 4, the longitudinal portion 26 of the main body 12 may include a sliding section 30 along which the rod clamp 20 is slidable or movable with respect to the transversal portion 24 of the main body 12. The sliding section 30 may include a set of marks 30 a which are formed on the transversal portion 24 and are spaced apart at equal intervals to denote a variety of locations at which the rod clamp 20 may be positioned.

As shown in FIG. 4, the rod clamp 20 may be configured to be shaped like a saddle, and may be slidable along the sliding section 30 in an unclamped state and rotatable around the transversal portion 24 which has a circular cross-section in the illustrated embodiments. As shown in FIG. 5, the rod clamp 20 may include an enclosure 21 a cross-section of which may form a shape enclosing most of the cross-sectional periphery of the sliding section 30 such as an Ω-shape or a U-shape. The enclosure 21 of the rod clamp 20 may include an adjustable opening 38 a dimension of which is controllable by way of a fastening mechanism 32 (e.g., bolt and nut) to thereby decrease the cross-section of the enclosure and to achieve clamping of the rod clamp 20 at a given position along the sliding section 30. The fastening mechanism 32 may include a knob that is rotatable to tighten or loosen the enclosure 21.

From a first position on the sliding section 30 at which the rod clamp 20 is clamped with respect to the transversal portion 24 of the main body 12, the rod clamp 20 may be unclamped by loosening the fastening mechanism 32, moved to a second position on the sliding section 30, and clamped thereon. Consequently, the rod clamp 20 is movable toward and away from the upper end of the main body 12.

The rod clamp 20 may also include a rod support 34 and an alignment rod 36. The rod support 34 may be located opposite the adjustable opening 38, and may include an arm 34 a extending from the enclosure 21 and a tubular section 40 through which the alignment rod 36 extends. The tubular section 40 may be oriented so that the alignment rod 36 extends across the transversal portion 24 or perpendicularly relative to the longitudinal axis of the transversal portion 24 (FIG. 2).

Located on the opposite end of the main body 12 (i.e., at the first end 12 a), the club clamp 18 is configured to clamp a shaft of the putter 1 relative to the main body 12. The club clamp 18 may include a clamp mechanism 42 that can immobilize the shaft 1 b of the putter 1, relative to the apparatus 10 (FIG. 1). The clamp mechanism 42 may be configured such that, once the club clamp 18 is clamped to the shaft 1 b of the putter 1, the longitudinal portion 26 of the main body 12 may extend along the grip 1 a of the putter 1 in a side-by-side fashion (e.g., substantially parallel) offset from one another. The space between the grip 1 a and the longitudinal portion 26 allows for the golfer's hands to grasp the grip 1 a without obstruction from the training apparatus 10 when the apparatus 10 is clamped on the shaft 1 b.

In addition to the illustrated embodiment, the club clamp 18 may be embodied to include a variety of clamping mechanisms in order secure the apparatus 10 adjacent to a grip 1 a of the putter 1. In the illustrated embodiment, the club clamp 18 includes a stationary portion 44, a pivoting portion 46, a pin 48, and pads 50. The stationary portion 44 may be part of the main body 12. The pivoting portion 46 may include a lever 46 a that can be manipulated to clamp or unclamp the shaft 1 b of the putter 1. The lever 46 a may be manipulated with the thumb while the other fingers grasp the stationary portion 44, for example. The stationary portion 44 and the pivoting portion 46 may be pivotably connected by the pin 48, and the pivoting portion 46 may include a biasing mechanism (e.g., a spring) which biases the pivoting portion 46 against the stationary portion 44 to a clamped position. The stationary portion 44 and the pivoting portion 46 may provide recesses 52 that combine to form a tubular enclosure 54 to accommodate the pads 50 which may be secured therein through various means known in the art. The pads 50 may be made of a variety of deformable materials (e.g., elastomers such as rubber or silicone) that can apply sufficient clamping force on the shaft 1 b of the putter 1 to secure the apparatus on the putter 1. It may be necessary to insert a pad 50 having an appropriate thickness on the inner surface of the tubular enclosure 54 so that clamping by the club clamp 18 applies a proper amount of pressure on the shaft 1 b of the putter 1. The pads 50 on the stationary portion 44 and the pivoting portion 46 may combine to form a space that is dimensioned to be smaller than the sectional volume of the shaft 1 b of a conventional putter 1.

One manner of using the embodiment of the golf training apparatus 10 which includes the rod clamp 20 and the club clamp 18 will be discussed below while referring to FIG. 8. In order to utilize the apparatus, the user may manipulate the lever of the pivoting portion to unclamp the club clamp 18 and insert the shaft 1 b of the putter 1 into the tubular enclosure 54 such that the portion of the shaft 1 b directly beneath the grip 1 a of the putter 1 is placed inside the tubular enclosure 54. The apparatus 10 is positioned and oriented so that a side surface 56 of the longitudinal portion 26 of the main body 12 (or a plane formed by the longitudinal portion 26 and the transversal portion 24) is parallel with the putter face. While maintaining such a position of the apparatus 10, the apparatus 10 is secured to the shaft 1 b of the putter 1 using the club clamp 18 by closing the pivoting portion.

Once the club clamp 18 is secured to the shaft 1 b of the putter 1, the next steps involve the user assuming the putting position to check the position of the rod clamp 20 and adjusting the position of the rod clamp 20. Since the goal of this golf training apparatus 10 is to teach the golfer to align their forearms with the shaft 1 b of the putter 1, the rod clamp 20 should be moved to an aligned position and clamped thereat where, when the user grips the putter 1, the alignment rod 36 touches the same spot on each forearm. One hand of the user will be higher or lower than the other hand on the grip 1 a while the user grips the putter 1. By loosening the fastening mechanism of the rod clamp 20, repositioning the rod clamp 20 to be at the aforementioned position with the help of a mirror or an observer, and checking that the alignment rod 36 touches the same spot on each forearm of the user, it is possible to find the position of the rod clamp 20 at which the forearms are aligned with the shaft 1 b and at which the alignment rod 36 touches the same spots of the user's forearms. For example, once the rod clamp 20 is re-clamped, the alignment rod 36 could touch the user's forearms at approximately 2 inches below the cubital fossa or the ‘elbow pit’. Due to the differences in the physical attributes of golfers, adjustment of the position of the rod clamp 20 may be necessary to determine the aligned position for each golfer. Once the apparatus 10 is mounted in this manner relative to the putter 1 with the club clamp 18 and the rod clamp 20 in the aforementioned positions, the user can practice the putting motion such that the alignment rod 36 contacts the same spots on the user's forearms during the entire putting motion.

By practicing the putting stroke with a putter 1 that is mounted with the apparatus 10, the golfer can become familiar with the proper setup or address position for putting. Some of the benefits of using the training apparatus 10 discussed herein are that the forearms of the user are brought in line with the shaft of the golf club or the putter and that space is created between the hands and body by holding the club in this manner. FIG. 8 illustrates the benefits arising from holding the golf club or putter in this manner.

Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A training apparatus for putting, the apparatus comprising: an elongate main body including an upper end and a lower end; a club clamp located at the lower end and configured to clamp a shaft of a golf club relative to the main body; and a rod clamp located at an upper end and configured to clamp an alignment rod relative to the main body.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rod clamp is movable toward and away from the upper end.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the main body includes a transversal portion near the upper end, and the rod clamp is movable along the transversal portion prior to being clamped.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the transversal portion includes a set of marks spaced apart along a length of the transversal portion and defining a sliding section.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rod clamp is rotatable around the main body along the transversal portion.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the transversal portion includes a circular cross-section, and the rod clamp includes an enclosure enclosing the transversal portion and including an adjustable opening, a fastening mechanism to reduce the adjustable opening and tighten the enclosure around the transversal portion, and a rod support supporting the alignment rod relative to the rod clamp.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the alignment rod is oriented to extend across the transversal portion.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the alignment rod is oriented to be perpendicular to the transversal portion.
 9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the fastening mechanism includes a knob that is rotatable to tighten or loosen the enclosure.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the main body is dimensioned such that a grip of a golf club can be placed between the club clamp and the transversal portion.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the main body includes reinforcing truss structures throughout the main body.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the club clamp includes a stationary portion and a pivoting portion.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the pivoting portion is pivotably connected to the main body.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the pivoting portion is biased toward the stationary portion to close the club clamp.
 15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the pivoting portion includes a lever for manipulation thereof.
 16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein each of the pivoting portion and the stationary portion includes a recess to accommodate a shaft of a golf club.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein a pad is provided in the recess to abut a shaft of a golf club.
 18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a cross-section of the longitudinal portion is rectangular.
 19. A method of practicing putting using a training apparatus, the training apparatus comprising an elongate main body including an upper end and a lower end joined by a longitudinal portion and a transversal portion, the training apparatus further comprising a club clamp located at the lower end and configured to clamp a shaft of a golf club relative to the main body, the training apparatus further comprising a rod clamp located at the upper end and configured to clamp an alignment rod relative to the main body, the method comprising: clamping the club clamp to the shaft of the golf club such that a plane formed by the longitudinal portion and the transversal portion is parallel with a club face of the golf club; assuming a putting position by gripping a grip of the golf club and checking where the alignment rod contacts each of a user's forearms; and adjusting a position of the rod clamp along the transversal portion and clamping the rod clamp such that the alignment rod touches each of the user's forearms at a same spot.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein, after the adjusting of the position of the rod clamp, the user's forearms become aligned with the shaft of the golf club when viewed from a side of the user. 